Apparatus for developing and otherwise treating photographic film



Aug. 20. 1 940.

J. E. VANDERWALKER 2,212,357 APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND OTHERWISE TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM Filed April 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 20 ,K. a J 2/ 2 26 l' l I 1 I I l I l 2 I l I 1 I l I I i Per g,

IC FILM Aug. 20, 1940. J. E. VANDERWALKER APPARATUS FOR DEVELOPING AND OTHERWISE TREATING PHOTOGRAPH Filed April 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /nventor Joseph E Vanderwa/A'er 5y W/u'zeheac/ Vog/ l ef W AliOf/76Y5 Patented Aug. 20, 1940 t I UNITED STATES PATEN FFICE APPARATUS EUR DEVELOPING AND OTHER- TVISE TREATING PHOTOGRAPHEfi FlLM Joseph E. Vanderwalker, Victor, Colo.

Application April 6, 1939, Serial No. 266,294

11 Claims. (Cl, 95-905) This invention relates to apparatus for dewith a plurality of orifices 4, to permit the ingress veloping and otherwise treating photographic and egress of liquid. Each orifice is provided film. with a baiile to intercept the passage of light Objects of the invention are to provide apparafrom the orifices 4 to the orifices 6 in false bottom tus of the class described which has within itself I, which false bottom is supported on the bottom 5 means for excluding light while admitting liquid 3 by annular ring 8. The bafiles 5 may be affixed and/or air, so that the apparatus may be opto the bottom 3, projecting upwardly therefrom, erated without the necessity of a dark room, and or may depend from the false bottom I, as dein such apparatus to provide (ct) for a high desired. l0 gree of compactness, simplicity, economy, efii- Resting on the false bottom I, as by annular 10 ciency, and facility for cleaning; (b) for admisring 9, is a secondary false bottom I0 provided sion of liquid under pressure, whereby to effecwith orifices II for the admission and emission tively eject air and prevent spotting of the film; of liquid, and also provided with projections or (c) for construction of the apparatus by the lugs I2 for supporting a spool or roll of film and assembling of parts, each one of which is simple preventing the end of such spool closing the 15 and economical in construction and which give orifices II, and providing for free circulation of extreme efliciency for the purpose indicated when liquid between the secondary false bottom Ill and assembled, but which may be readily disasthe end of the spool. sembled into separate parts, of construction most The false bottoms I and I0 and their depending easily cleaned; (d) for ease of assembly and disrings 8 and 9 are indented as at I3, and the lower 20 assembly of parts and for a structure composed portion of tank 2 is correspondingly indented as of parts so arranged as to practically eliminate at I4, whereby the comating of these indentawear, deterioration or wrong adjustment of the tions Will assure the seating of the false bottoms .parts; (e) for the utmost facility and speed in I and ill in predetermined position relative to filling and emptying the apparatus in using the each other and relative to the orifices 4 and the 25 same. baffles 5.

The novel features of my apparatus are defined The construction just described obviously proin the appended claims. The structure, assembly vides for the admission into the interior of tank and operation, as well as additional objects and 2 of liquid through orifices 4, 6 and II, and for advantages, will, however, be fully described in the emission of liquid therethrough, while exclud- 30 the following description of a preferred embodiing from the interior of tank 2 any light which ment of the invention, which embodiment is ilmight enter through orifices 4.

lustrated in the accompanying drawings in The top of tank 2 is provided with a cover inwhich dicated generally at 95, having a flange I6 Fig. 1 is a vertical, central section of the apadapted to enclose the top of tank 2 and to have 35 paratus completely assembled. an engagement with tank 2 by sufficient friction Figs. 2 to '7, inclusive, are, respectively, secor other suitable means to permit the lifting of tion-s of the central portion of the apparatus tank 2 (when full of liquid) by the cover I5, for taken on lines 2-2, 3-3, 4 I, 55, 6-43, II, which purpose the cover I5 is provided with an 40 in each case looking in the direction of the aroverhanging rim I'I serving as a handle which 40 rows on the respective lines in Fig. 1. may be gripped by the fingers for conveniently The apparatus comprises a cylindrical tank I, lifting the cover and therewith, tank 2. having its upper portion enlarged as at id for the Cover I5 is funneled, as at I8, the funnel terdouble purpose of accommodating the flange of minating in a down spout I9, communicating 5 the cover and providing space for excess liquid, with the interior of tank 2, whereby liquid may all as hereinafter described. The balance of the be easily poured into tank 2, if desired, the spout apparatus, when assembled, is adapted to be I9 serving for the admission and emission of seated within tank I. liquid and/or air.

Within tank I, and preferably having a loose, It will be noted that enlarged portion Ia of sliding fit therein, I provide tank 2, preferably tank I provides not only for the seating of flange 5 somewhat shorter than tank I, as illustrated at I 6 but also additional space outside said flange Fig. 1, and adapted to nest within tank I subfor the accommodation of any liquid which may stantially as illustrated. be forced upwardly within tank I by the inser- The bottom of tank 2 is illustrated at Fig. 7, tion of tank 2 therein, as hereinafter described. and is indicated generally by 3 and is provided The cover l5 has a depending annular flange 55 20 spaced from the flange I6 sufliciently to accommodate both the upper rim of tank 2 and the upper rim of inverted cup 2|, which rim of cup 2| is adapted to tightly fit the flange 20, whereby to support cup 2| and the enclosed parts later described, by such friction grip of the cup 2| with the flange 20.

The bottom 2Ia of cup 20 is provided with a large number of small orifices 22 scattered throughout the bottom 2Ia for the purpose hereinafter described.

Suitably supported on the bottom 2Ia of the cup, as by annular flange 23, I provide a partition 22 having a central orifice 25, and suitably supported on partition 24, as by annular flange 26 and/or baliies 21, I provide an upper partition 28 having orifices 29 outside the baffles 21, the partition 28 carrying upwardly projecting baffles 30 positioned between the orifices 29 and the spout I9 in the cover I5.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that either liquid or air may enter the interior of tank 2 through the cover or be ejected from the interior of tank 2 through the cover, while light entering through spout I9 will be excluded from that portion of the interior of tank 2 which is below partition 25.

It will be noted that the entire apparatus is of the utmost compactness, the tank 2 with cover I being of substantially the same length as the enclosing tank I. and substantially enclosed therein.

In operation, the tank 2 is removed from tank I, and the cover I5, carrying with it cup 2| and L its contained parts, is removed from tank 2 and the rack or spool of film is seated upon the projections or lugs I2 and cover I5 with cup 2| and its contained parts is replaced upon tank 2 in the position indicated in Fig. 1; Thedesired liquid is then placed in tank I and the operator, using overhanging flange II as a handle, inserts tank ,2 with its contained parts in tank I, and astank 2 is pressed down into the liquid, the liquid will, be forced upwardly through orifices 4, 6 and I I and into the interior of tank 2, enveloping the film in the tank, it being understood that sufiicient of the liquid will be placed in tank I so as to fully cover the film in tank 2 when that tank has been seated on the bottom of tank I, as illustrated in Fig. 1. a

It will be obvious that the exertion of downward pressure on cover I5, forcing tank 2 down into the liquid, will result in forcing the liquid under pressure into the interior of tank 2 and will cause a circulation of the liquid within the tank and the pressure will result in the almost instantaneous filling of tank 2 and enveloping the film, whereby all parts of the film will be enveloped in the liquid at substantially-the same instant, thus eliminating variation in 'develop-, mentof different portions of the film. The same.

result in the film if minute. particles or bubbles were permitted to adhere to. the film;

It is to accomplish the above described results that tank 2 has a loosesliding fitin-tank I, a

practically imperceptible space being provided between the two, so that the liquid in tank I is forced through the orifices 4 and into tank 2.

However, if downward pressure be exerted to an excessive degree, some of the liquid will rise between the walls of tank I and tank 2, and any such liquid will be accommodated in the space outside flange I6 within enlarged portion Ia of tank I. Flange I5, projecting beyond the inner wall of the smaller part of tank I, prevents any upward squirting of the liquid.

While the liquid is entering tank 2 from the bottom, the air, obviously, will be expelled from tank 2 through orifices 22, 25 and 29 and spout I9.

When the film has remained in the liquid for the desired time, tank 2 is lifted out of tank I, the operator using the overhanging flange I I as a handle for this purpose. By reason of the free inlet of air through spout I9 and orifices 29, 25 and 22, the liquid will flow out of tank 2 through orifices II, 6 and 4 almost as-rapidly as tank 2 is lifted, and the advantage of this is obvious, in that the film is all removed from the liquid at substantially the same instant, thus avoiding variations in the action of the liquid on different portions of the film and insuring a uniform result.

By the time the bottom of tank 2 has reached the top of tank I the liquid will all have left tank 2 and rinse water may be poured into tank 2 through funnel I8, entering the interior of tank 2 through the orifices 29, 25 and 22 and rinsing the film. In this operation the multiplicity of small orifices 22 results in the spraying of the rinsing water, thus accomplishing a quick and complete rinsing ofthe contained film.

Assuming that the foregoing operation has been conducted with a developing liquid, the tank 2 will now be inserted in another tank I containing the fixing liquid, and after the fixing of the film the rinsing operation may be repeated as above described.

While a second tank I is. mentioned above, it will, of course, be obvious that a single tank I may be used, the developing liquid being poured into a suitable receptacle and replaced by fixing liquid.

While the various parts which engage tank 2 normally retain the positions as illustrated in Fig. 1, it is obvious that they may be readily separated so that each part may be'easily and thoroughly cleansed. It is apparent from the illustration that each part by itself is of very simple construction, so that it is inexpensive in manufacture, as well as easy to clean. Moreover, the parts are so constructed and arranged, as above described and as illustrated in the drawings, that improper.assembling is difficult if not impossible, so that the structure is substantially fool-proof. 7

Again it will be noted that each part of the device is of such simple and rugged construction that there is practically nothing to wear and nothing to break'in the course of use, including assembling and disassembling of the parts.

I have hereinabove described, and in the drawings. illustrated, many details of construction. Modifications and equivalent alternatives for such details will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and the invention is not confined or limited to such details. r

I claim:

1. In photographic processing apparatus, a con tainer adapted totreceive within itself a lightproof-packed set of exposed films and having series of staggered orifices at opposite ends thereof but being otherwise closed, a tank adapted to receive said container with a loose, sliding fit, whereby, when said container is inserted in said tank, liquid in the tank will be forced into said container through one of said series of orifices.

2. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, said tank having an annular reservoir surrounding the top of the container for any liquid forced upwardly around the container.

3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, a container cover having a flange enclosing the top of the container, the upper portion of the tank being annularly enlarged to receive said container cover flange and to form a reservoir therearound for any liquid forced upwardly around the container.

4. In photographic processing apparatus, having a negative container and an inverted cup-like member within the top of the container, a cover for said container having a pair of interrelatively spaced flanges adapted to respectively engage the open ends of the container and of the cuplike member.

5. In apparatus as defined in claim 4, an orifice in the cover, orifices in the bottom of the cup-like member and partitions within said member having interrelatively staggered orifices whereby to prevent passage of light but permit passage of fluid in either direction between the interior of the container and the exterior of the cover.

6. In apparatus as defined in claim 4, a plurality of spaced, freely separable, partitions, having staggered masked orifices, within and retained by said cup-like member.

7. In apparatus as defined in claim 4, an orifice in the cover, members within and retained by said cup-like member adapted to prevent passage of light but permit passage of fluid in either direction between the interior of the container and the exterior of the cover, said cup-like member having a perforated bottom adapted to spray into the interior of the container any liquid passing from the cover orifice toward said interior.

8. In photographic processing apparatus, a container adapted to receive within itself a light proof-packed set of exposed films and having orifices at each end thereof but being otherwise closed and, at each end of the interior thereof, a plurality of spaced, freely separable members hav ing masked and interrelatively staggered orifices whereby, at each end of the container, to prevent passage of light but permit passage of fiuid in either direction between the interior and exterior of said container.

9. In apparatus as defined in claim 8, said members in one end of said container being held in predetermined interrelative position by a comating tongue and groove formed in the container wall and in the edges of said separable members.

10. In apparatus as defined in claim 8, said members in one end of said container being contained within and retained by a cup-like member engaged and supported by an orificed cover, said cover forming an end of said container when closed.

11. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, an a 

